This submission references Shari’a, international human rights law, and the Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia (PFC) to condemn human rights violations in Somalia. Although the Somali Government has implemented measures to foster the protection of human rights, Somalia maintains its highly critical human rights record, which requires greater national and international attention.

Ferdous Al Toum was sentenced to be flogged 20 lashes and a fine. She has appealed this sentence. Rehab Omer Kakoum was sentenced to a heavy fine and has appealed this. Trials against eight of the 10 female Christian students charged with “indecent dress” have concluded.

Saadia Rajab is a 22 year old Sudanese woman who was charged with adultery and sentenced to death by stoning.

When she first appeared at the Alhaj-Yousf/Bahri Public Order Court in the north of Khartoum, Saadia did not have any legal representation and admitted that she had a relationship with a man while being married to another. She was sentenced to "lapidation" (stoning to death) under Article 146 of the Sudanese Criminal Act of 1991.[i] But, in accordance with Article 144g of Sudan's 1991 Criminal Procedure Law, the judge postponed implementation of the sentence and ordered her to return to court after a month.

In this Report, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, provides an overview of the legally binding provisions, implementing mechanisms and relevant jurisprudence regarding violence against women in three regional human rights systems: the African, European and Inter-American systems.

The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Rashida Manjoo, discusses the existing legal standards and practices regarding violence against women in three regional human rights systems: the African, European and Inter-American systems. The Addendum to the Report also shade lights on the normative gap in international law as regards violence against women.